Smart technology and job creation
Smart technology is not a destroyer but a creator of jobs. Many people opposed to technology reason that automating processes in industries will replace the need for humans with computers. Computers have replaced blue collar jobs in areas such as car assembly plants, telephone receptionists and bank tellers. Therefore, it is clear that artificial intelligence has resulted in a shift of careers in the job market. However, technology has helped to create more jobs than it has destroyed. Smart technology has reduced the cost of doing business primarily in the field of manufacturing leading to the availability of resources which results in increased spending on human labor. Notably, many of the jobs that have been taken over by machines are occupations that require less of human input. Improved technology has led to the demand for human labor especially in the knowledge-based intensive sectors where the need for faster communication demanded. For example, there has been an increase in the need for accountants as a result of an increase in the demand for financial services due to a rise in the wage bill.
The impact of smart technology on work and life
Smart technology especially through artificial intelligence affects the way people play, work, and live. Adoption of technology in an organization forces it to change the way it operates and especially in making its operations smarter (Prattis, 2016). As a result, the firm benefits from improved quality, functionality, and speed and in the end, increases its revenue growth by a considerable margin. Organizations find it easier to integrate technology by automating their processes and thus, improving their analytical capabilities (Colciago and Etro, 2012). However, any automated system ranging from simple applications to complex systems such as robots requires to be programmed by humans (Bailetti and D. Bot, 2013). Therefore, programming jobs are created by the adoption of technology. Besides, the most complex human intelligence systems in the world require programming algorithms that have been designed by humans (Prattis, 2016). Every smart gadget needs datasets customized and created by humans in addition to written software. Even if the technology gets to the point of having the artificial intelligence program itself, human intelligence will still be required to expand the physical computing infrastructure (Daly, 2012). There are critical and unique strengths in humans that cannot be replaced by smart technology including and not limited to decision making with complex inputs, creative thinking, empathy, social interaction, and the ability to question. Machines are predictable, unlike human beings (Prattis, 2016). Therefore, smart technology collaborates with human beings and does not compete with them (VAINIOMAKI and LAAKSONEN, 2014). The adoption of technology creates the need for programmers, technicians, and other highly skilled jobs. Millions of jobs are at risk worldwide, but also, many other opportunities are generated by the adoption of smart technology. People should change their education system to be fully prepared for the future robotic workforce (Whiteson and Stone, 2015). The learning should be focused on acquiring skills that are impossible for computers such as ideation, complex communication, and large-frame pattern recognition (Hathaway, 2013).
Smart technology and employment creation among entrepreneurs
Through automation, smart technology is not a job destroyer, but it is a crucial driver for employment creation among entrepreneurs. Investments that are based on technology tend to impact organizations through increased capability to hire. Technology helps entrepreneurial companies to improve their efficiency and cost competitiveness, which in turn allows them to expand the workforces and to reinvest in their business (ADELINO, MA and ROBINSON, 2017). Companies that embrace new technology in their operations increase their global outlook, which helps them to exploit various opportunities. As a result, they get empowered to address their shortage of skills in their home market by tapping the global talent pool. Technology through mobile working has continued to provide more significant opportunities for the skilled pool of workers in entrepreneurial companies (ADELINO, MA and ROBINSON, 2017). Before advancement in technology, companies were forced to hire from the public pools of talent, and many people lacked job opportunities for the job market could not fully absorb them (Patel, 2018). Technology has enabled companies to hire employees who can work anywhere, outside and inside the physical walls of an organization.
New job opportunities created by smart technology
Technology has led to the creation of top jobs that did not exist in the early days. Smart technology has revolutionized companies such as Uber leading to the creation of thousands of jobs across the world (Alic, 2015). A potential customer can log in to the internet via phone, locate the Uber drivers, pay without using cash, and give them a rating. Uber is headquartered in California, but it operates in more than four hundred cities in seventy nations. Social media manager is also a job that has been created by smart technology (Lowrey, 2011). Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have been continuously developed over the years and organizations find them useful in offering a wide range of opportunities such as attracting potential customers and creating brand awareness. Social media managers are hired by most brands to manage their channels and to develop effective strategies in using the platforms to broaden their customer base. Through applications such as Airbnb host, millions of jobs have been created where people can provide rental services by renting their spare rooms. Cloud computing has created opportunities in the digital market. Cloud storage specialists range from engineers, database managers, and strategists that index and store large amounts of data. Through cloud computing, there has been increased collaboration between business in boosting their ability to respond to the various challenges and trends in the market (Lowrey, 2011). As a result, cloud-based security jobs have spiked in the last decade creating careers such as cloud security architect, and cloud email security personnel, whose primary responsibility is to ensure data safety and security.
Smart technology and the transformation of work
The current digital age has led to increased consumption of YouTube leading to the creation of YouTube content creators as full-time careers. Jobs such as application developers have been created due to the motivation by smart technology to make life easier for human beings. Self-driven car technology has led to the creation of jobs such as software developers and engineers, whose primary role is to maintain and design the vehicles. Development in drone technology has led to the creation of employment to operate them. Some United Kingdom colleges offer full-time courses to students wishing to become drone operators (Kotwal, 2018). Also, millennial generational experts are opportunities that have been created as a result of the adoption of smart technology. The experts are hired by firms to be consultants that assist the companies to understand better the changing workforce. User experience designers are works that are created by technology, and the experts are expected to ensure that the interaction between users and their websites is as smooth as possible. Therefore, technology has led to the conception of millions of jobs that were nonexistent in the 20th century.
Increased productivity and resource utilization through smart technology
Smart technology helps organizations to reduce their use of resources and create a higher output. The chief goal of any business is to keep low the costs of production and maximize their profits by providing high-quality services and products (Pisu, 2015). Notably, in the process of continuously improving their offerings, businesses create new jobs at various points. The saving most companies make, enable them to add more resources and thus, boost their output. Some of the resources include human labor that leads to the hiring of more workers working online enabling businesses to engage a wide of range of talents without worrying on their physical accommodation. Job vacancies are available for qualified candidates that are recruited from different nations, and they need to be at home due to various obligations. Smart technology has shifted the consumption trend of consumers (Patel, 2018). Smartphones, for example, have transformed the way people plan and maintain their schedules, find entertainment, pay bills, make plans with friends, and avoiding unnecessary encounters. As a result, through technology, people have developed innovative startups to support the change in consumer behavior by providing solutions to theater problems. Smart technology has not led to depletion of jobs but has caused a shift in employment (Korosi, 2014). The invention of communication technologies and robotics have led to a change of careers towards science and technology.
Part-time jobs and underemployment
In the United Kingdom, many people in employment are in part-time jobs. However, smart technology has enabled the majority of them to multitask through engaging in different responsibilities that bring income (Vesga, 2015). Through the internet, a person can gain skills to tackle various tasks and use the knowledge to acquire online employment. Technology helps to create meaningful jobs, which contributes to political and economic stability. Part-time online jobs have helped to curb underemployment especially in regions of low-growth (Subramanian and Subramanian, 2015). Smart technology is a catalyst that has led to the creation of entirely new opportunities and industries and has contributed to unlocking the inefficiencies that exist in the market. Innovations lead to the creation of opportunities that did not exist, and societal productivity has been improved resulting in newer and better jobs.
The overall impact of smart technology on job creation
To sum it up, technology has led to a positive impact in creating more employment opportunities for the people. Smart technology has revolutionized operations in the workplace as a result of increased efficiency and productivity in addition to eliminating human errors. More skilled jobs are created, and workers are empowered to survive in the complex world. More opportunities are created through innovation. Jobs that existed before the adoption of technology have been changed to accommodate more workforce to enhance productivity. Increased production as a result of the use of smart technology by organizations has led to the creation of more jobs. Highly productive companies hire more employees and offer higher pays. Increased work profiles have been created primarily in artificial intelligence, information technology, and software development. The industrial revolution ushered a new era of increased demand for skilled labor. Smart technology has changed the nature of job opportunities by introducing new ways of performing tasks leading to innovation and invention.
References
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